UN Envoy concludes visit to Yemen

Yemen-The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed concluded today a three day visit to Sana'a where he held meetings with several representatives of the General People’s Congress, Ansarallah, Yemeni activists and foreign diplomats.

The Special Envoy presented the Houthi-General People’s Congress delegation with a written roadmap that addresses security and political arrangements. The delegation agreed to respond to the proposal in the coming days.

The Special Envoy stressed that "all parties must cooperate fully and swiftly to support political alternatives to secure lasting peace guided by a conviction that violence is never a viable solution. The previous weeks and months confirmed that there are no winners in war and violence is never a viable solution."At the end of the visit, the Special Envoy emphasized the importance of reaching a comprehensive and peaceful resolution to the conflict, and urged the parties to agree to an extension of the Cessation of Hostilities.

He noted the importance of allowing free and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to all parts of Yemen. "Yemeni men and women have found themselves trapped in a deadly crossfire for too long and they are paying the price for the indiscriminate violence in the country. This must stop," he said.The Special Envoy visited the site of the funeral hall attack that took place three weeks ago in Sana'a. He met representatives of the families of the victims. He noted the urgent need to open up Yemeni airspace to commercial aircraft and to evacuate the injured for treatment.